Week 7 is here, and the race for the top of the Pac-12 continues to take shape. Boise State remains at No. 1, while Oregon State holds steady at No. 2 after another explosive offensive performance. Further down the rankings, Utah State moves up after picking up its first conference win, while Washington State continues to search for answers after another loss. Here’s how the Pac-12 power rankings stack up heading into Week 7.
1. Boise State (#1 Last Week)
The No. 1 spot stays with Boise State again this week, where the Broncos
have been since the start of the season. A big rivalry win on the road against Fresno State further establishes Boise State as one of the top two teams in the Pac-12.
The Broncos will get a well-deserved bye week before heading to Pullman for a matchup against Washington State in Week 8.
2. Oregon State (#2 Last Week)
An explosive offensive performance against San Diego State helped the Beavers cruise to a 66-14 victory last week. Jesse Legree continues to show that he is one of the best wide receivers in the country, and Oregon State fans have real reason to believe this team can make the College Football Playoff.
In Week 7, Oregon State will host Washington State in a battle between Pac-2 foes. The Cougars’ offense has struggled mightily this season, and the Beavers should feel good about their chances if the offense can score 28 or more points against a solid WSU defense.
3. Fresno State (#3 Last Week)
Even after a heartbreaking rivalry loss to Boise State, the Bulldogs stay at No. 3 in this week’s power rankings. Fresno State was unable to stop the Broncos’ running game, allowing more than 270 rushing yards in the loss.
Fresno State will have a chance to establish itself as a legitimate top-three team in the conference with a win against San Diego State this week. A victory would help the Bulldogs bounce back from the rivalry loss and keep them firmly in the conference’s upper tier.
4. Texas State (#5 Last Week)
Coming off a bye week, Texas State moves up one spot in this week’s power rankings. That means the Bobcats won the bye week, right? Despite losing to San Diego State on the road, Texas State jumps back ahead of the Aztecs after SDSU’s 66-14 loss to Oregon State.
Looking ahead to this week, the Bobcats will host Colorado State. This is a good opportunity for Texas State to pick up its first Pac-12 conference win against a Rams defense that has struggled throughout the season and a Texas State offense that has had no issues putting up points.
5. San Diego State (#4 Last Week)
The Aztecs drop one spot after a dreadful 66-14 loss to the Beavers in Corvallis. The silver lining for San Diego State is that Oregon State is a really good team, and no matter how much you lose by, it still counts as just one loss.
San Diego State will have a chance to get back on track this week with a rivalry game against Fresno State. Both sides of the ball will need to be much better if the Aztecs hope to pull off an upset against the Bulldogs.
6. Colorado State (#6 Last Week)
Jim Mora and the Rams were stagnant last week as they came off their bye. However, the extra week off came at a good time for Colorado State, giving quarterback Hauss Hejny more time to get healthy. It also gives new defensive coordinator Kenny McClendon another week to prepare the defensive unit for a big test against Texas State.
The defense will have a tall task this week against one of the most explosive offenses in the Pac-12 as the Rams travel to Texas State. If the defense can improve from its performances earlier in the season, the Colorado State offense may have just enough juice to pull off an upset in San Marcos.
7. Utah State (#8 Last Week)
Utah State secured its first Pac-12 conference win with a 17-16 victory over Washington State at home Friday. While the Aggies’ offense struggled against the Cougars, the defense was phenomenal and led the way to a big win for Bronco Mendenhall and the Aggies
The Aggies have a bye week before heading to Texas State, where they will face a significant test against the Bobcats. Utah State’s defense will need to continue playing at a high level if the Aggies hope to pick up another conference win.
8. Washington State (#7 Last Week)
Being at the bottom of the Pac-12 standings and power rankings is not how Kirby Moore would have envisioned his first season in Pullman. Washington State is coming off a disappointing 17-16 loss to Utah State, dropping the Cougars to the bottom of the conference rankings.
WSU will travel to Corvallis this week to face an Oregon State team that has its sights set on winning the Pac-12 and is beginning to believe it can make the College Football Playoff. The struggling Cougar offense will turn to a new starting quarterback, Owen Eshelman, as Washington State looks to get back on track against the Beavers.
